Innovation Fair: Through the Eyes of a Student
By Alex Hawkins, Rothesay High School & Brilliant Labs Contributor
Moncton, N.B. — Over 2,500 teachers and students came together on May 11th to celebrate innovation and creativity at Brilliant Labs’ Atlantic Canada Innovation Fair.
The day featured hundreds of student innovators looking to solve real world problems in their communities and for across the country. The fair showcased new perspectives on the climate crisis, decreasing homelessness, battling fast fashion consumerism, improving AI technology, aiding newcomers’ arrival in Canada and so much more.
As someone who has been involved with Brilliant Labs for six of its 10 years, I’ll happily say this event was an amazing reflection of how the organization has scaled and deepened its impact in Atlantic Canada. Not only did I get to speak to kids and teachers from all four Atlantic provinces, but I met staff from other parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador who told me how the Innovation Fair was created and its next steps.
The Fair featured a healthy mix of topics from fashion to climate to robotics, meaning wherever you turned something interesting was happening. I was lucky to walk the Fair with one of Brilliant Lab’s co-op students, Kezah, and we quickly agreed that these kids were taking true initiative to solve problems they saw in their community. From selling candles to raise money for the homeless to building an LED noise detector for elementary school classrooms, each student or class had come up with new solutions that helped broaden my own perspectives.
One project that really stuck with me was a light up shirt created for non-verbal people to signal when they are uncomfortable in any situation. The two students from John Martin Junior High in Dartmouth used Velcro so the LEDs could be removed for washing and they hope that this shirt can make the lives of non-verbal people easier.
Of course, innovation does not always need to be high-tech. Many projects showcased artistic or leadership-based projects that impacted their community. Students from the host school, École Le Mascaret in Moncton decided to create “Étape Sac”, a project where bags were sewn and filled with gifts to welcome newcomers in their school and community. Other projects such as “Helping Hands Leadership” through Max Aitken Academy in Miramichi were selling products where proceeds went towards goodie bags for seniors and school events.
All in all, the day was full of smiles, innovative ideas and learning. Brilliant Labs and its Innovation Fairs are a wonderful way to get involved if you are an eager student wanting to make a difference in your community. For me, this year’s Innovation Fair was a huge learning opportunity from practicing my French skills as I listened to bilingual projects, to talking about climate change with elementary and middle school students, each moment inspired me and challenged me to think about my own life and how I can improve my everyday impacts.
A huge thank you to every sponsor, staff member, caterer, student and teacher that made such an event possible and a shoutout to my first-period biology class that got to hear all about it the next day.
Brilliant Labs congratulates Alex Hawkins on being selected as one of the prestigious Loran scholars (listen to her CBC Information Morning Interview Here), a distinction achieved by only 36 students nationwide. Currently graduating from Rothesay High School, Alex’s journey continues as she prepares to embark on her next adventure at the University of Toronto in the fall. With her exceptional talents, leadership qualities, and dedication to STEAM education, Alex serves as an inspiring role model. Stay tuned as she brings her passion and expertise to another season of b.Brilliant, where she will co-host and empower youth with her remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
Congratulations Alex, you are a remarkable individual who has been making significant contributions to your school, community and as Brilliant Labs as a STEAM Maker and Media Contributor since grade 6. We’re wish you great success as you begin your post secondary studies.
